Cork Football League: Barrs and Clon in the driving seat

Tied at the top they took advantage of Nemo dropping points against local rivals Douglas.

Sun, 08 Jun, 2025 - 15:46

John Coleman

St Finbarr’s and Clonakilty are the favourites to make the final of Division 1 in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Football League after both teams registered important wins in the penultimate round of the competition. They are tied on 14 points each as both sides took advantage of Nemo Rangers dropping points against their neighbours from Douglas.

Clon welcomed bottom-placed Carrigaline to town on Sunday morning, knowing that a win would put them top of the table as they enjoy the head-to-head advantage over the Barrs. They ran out winners by 2-17 to 2-12 in Ahamilla as Carrigaline fought tooth and nail to get themselves out of the relegation zone. Dara Ó Sé top scored for Clon with 0-5, Ross Campbell and James Mannix both grabbed 1-1, Conor Daly clipped 0-3 while Sean McEvoy contributed 0-2. Niall Coakley matched Ó Sé's 0-5 for Carrig while Kieran McCarthy and Ryan Delaney both registered 1-1.

St Finbarr’s defeated St Michael’s by 0-17 to 1-7 on Thursday evening. Steven Sherlock once again led the way for the Barrs, shooting 0-9 with 0-5 coming from play and one two-pointer coming from a free. Cillian Myers Murray clipped 0-5, with 0-4 coming from outside the scoring arc while Bill O’Connell and Fionn Crowley also raised white flags. The Barrs led by 0-12 to 0-7 before a goal from Domhnall Cremin gave the hosts a sniff of a chance that they could not take. Luke O’Herlihy hit 0-5, including one two-pointer while Daniel Meany also got his name on the scoresheet. The result means Michael’s and Carrigaline remain on two points and will need a win along with a bit of luck on the final day if they are to avoid the drop.

Nemo Rangers missed their chance to make it to 14 points after they lost to Douglas by 0-16 to 1-7 on Thursday. Rob Hanley raised an orange flag from play and from a free for Douglas, Pádraig Lucey and Adam Cantwell both clipped 0-3 while goalkeeper Andrew Cotter landed a two-point free. Conor Horgan led the charge for Nemo with 0-4, Bryan Hayes clipped 0-3 while Ronan Dalton bagged the goal.

Castlehaven guaranteed themselves Division 1 football for 2026 by recording a 1-20 to 2-9 win at home to Éire Óg. Michael Hurley was the main man for the Haven, helping himself to 0-8 while Jamie O'Driscoll raised two orange flags and one white one, Seán Browne hit 1-1 and Micheál Maguire scored 0-4. Brian Hurley grabbed 1-3 for Éire Óg, Jack Murphy kicked 0-3 and Dylan Foley landed their other major. The Ovens side need to avoid defeat against Cill na Martra on the final day to secure their safety.

Speaking of Cill na Martra, they registered their fourth win of the campaign, beating Newcestown by 2-15 to 0-17. Ciarán Ó Duinnín top-scored for the Gaeltacht men with 1-2, Shane Ó Duinnín grabbed their other major while Jason MacCárthaigh clipped 0-4. David Buckley was Newcestown's main man with 0-7, while Richard O'Sullivan and Niall Kelly both clipped 0-2.

In Division 2, Carbery Rangers had already guaranteed themselves promotion and a place in the final by beating Béal Átha 'n Ghaorthaidh by 3-15 to 3-8 last weekend, with Ciarán McCarthy, Conor Twomey and John O'Brien grabbing the goals.

Knocknagree will join them in Division 1 next season after they beat Fermoy by 1-21 to 0-13 on Sunday morning. Tadc O'Mahony scored their goal, Michael McSweeney scored 0-9, Anthony O'Connor clipped 0-6 with half of them coming from play, while Denis O'Connor scored 0-3. The table-toppers will have a dress rehearsal for the final when they clash in the last round.

Knocknagree's win had the knock on effect of relegating Fermoy, and Kanturk followed them through the trapdoor on Sunday afternoon after they played out a 2-10 to 1-13 draw away to Castletownbere. James Harrington bagged 1-1 for the home side, Gérard Healy raised the other green flag, while Fintan Fenner, Andrew O'Sullivan and Gary Murphy all kicked 0-2.

Dohenys remained in third spot after they defeated O'Donovan Rossa by 3-18 to 1-20 in Dunmanway. Three first half goals put the home side in pole position as they led by 3-5 to 0-7 at the break. The Skibbereen side fought hard, however, with Kevin Davis kicking 0-12, Dave Shannon landing 1-3 and Niall Daly clipping 0-3.

Finally, Valley Rovers played out two draws in five days at home to Béal Átha and away to Ballincollig. On Tuesday it finished 1-10 to 0-13. Tim Ó Laoire had the goal for the Gaeltacht side with Seán Ó Muineacháin impressing. Then, on Sunday. It finished Ballincollig 1-11, Valley Rovers 0-14. Steve Coughlan scored the Ballincollig goal while Peter O'Neill, Kevin Browne and Chris Walsh all clipped 0-2. Adam Walsh Murphy and Ciarán McCarthy did the bulk of the scoring for the Valleys in both games.